Tim Sylvia – ProElite 2 win
Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim ‘The Maine-iac’ Sylvia (31-7) has returned to the Zuffa fold and will face Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier (10-0) on September 29.
The announcement was first made by MMAjunkie.com on Friday evening after learning of the matchup from “sources close to the event,” also breaking the news on the event venue naming the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacremento, California for the heavyweight scrap.
The website also noted that Sylvia had signed a multi-fight deal, with no comment from the fighter or his management. This is a very interesting tidbit since the bout will be the last heavyweight fight on SHOWTIME under the Strikeforce banner.
Sylvia has been trying to get back into the UFC, posting a video of himself training in an effort to remain at heavyweight after seven straight matches at super heavyweight.
‘The Maine-iac’ has won three straight, including back-to-back wins at heavyweight, and is 7-1 since a three fight losing streak almost three years ago. He recently won a twelve second TKO finish over Randy Smith at a NEF FIght Night event in Maine last month. The last time fans saw him in the Octagon was back in February 2008 when he suffered a third round submission loss to Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for the interim UFC heavyweight title.
Cormier is undefeated in his pro-career, having won the Grand Prix this past May with a five-round decision victory over Josh Barnett in the finale. To get there, the AKA fighter stopped Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva by first round knockout in the tournament semifinal after stepping in for Alistair Overeem. And before that, Cormier won a decision versus Jeff Monson in a tournament reserve bout in June of last year.